“Have you been well, Clementina?”
That voice. He’d only spoken a few words, but I was enthralled. It was so beautiful—the very essence of music.
“I have, thanks to your gracious blessing,” she replied calmly. As one who’d received his protection, Clementina seemed somewhat immune to his devastating charm.
“Pleasing notes echoed in your vicinity, so I came,” the god said.
At these words, his eyes moved to me and Lydia.
Lydia let out a cry of joy before covering her mouth with her hands. She gazed at the god, her eyes sparkling. The God of Music descended lower, gliding through the air, and stood in front of me. He focused on me intently.
Wh-What?
I was so surprised that I couldn’t move, but my eyes widened. I hadn’t sung, so why was the god interested in me of all people?!
Next to me, I heard Mikhail suck in a breath.
“A most peculiar tune... How mysterious,” the God of Music said, cocking his head to the side like a bird.
I remembered something the Maiden of Death had said about my soul.
“Something about your soul stands out. A tune I’ve never heard echoes from its depth, and a peculiar color shines through.”
O-Oh no! He clocked my otherworldly soul!
“It is beautiful. But it isn’t mine.” The God of Music said this, then flapped his wings once. He flew away from the audience seats and toward the stage where Olga and Renato were.
The two of them were startled by the sudden motion, and they stared at the God of Music, who smiled back at them. His bewitching lips formed a delicate arch.
“The two of you are mine. A pleasing song, a pleasing tone... How delightful. How delightful indeed.” He extended his arms toward Olga and Renato. “Delightful singer, delightful player, come to my garden. Let me hear you once more.”
Olga and Renato both looked like they were dreaming; they’d fallen under the charm of the God of Music. Slowly, they lifted their hands. After receiving the invitation of a god, there was little a human could do besides accept.
However, a loud voice suddenly interrupted. “How can that be?! Wait! Please wait! Why?! It should be me!”
Lydia’s true feelings spilled from her lips. However, the God of Music didn’t pay her any mind. He didn’t even look at her.
“My Lord God of Music!” she screamed, dashing toward the stage. “Please take me with you! Take me!”
Running wasn’t proper for noble ladies. Considering Lydia’s usual behavior, I knew she had never done it before. She was the sort of lady who walked unhurriedly under the shade of her waiting maid’s sun umbrella. Yet Lydia ran frantically, her fancy dress fluttering wildly.
“My Lord God of Music! Please... Please listen to my song...!”
In their current state, Olga and Renato could see no one but the God of Music. They each took one of his hands.
“Please listen to my singing!”
Lydia ran onto the stage, but right before she reached Olga, Renato, and the God of Music, they disappeared into thin air. The colorful lights that danced on the stage vanished just as quickly, as though all of this had only been a dream.
In the aftermath, there was nothing left onstage except for Lydia on her knees, crying out in desperation.
I’d heard that the God of Music invited those who’d impressed him on the stage of the Music Sanctuary. However, he’d made a rare appearance here, in the detached palace, today.
“Pleasing notes echoed in your vicinity, so I came,” he said. So this must have happened because Clementina, who’s under his protection, is here!
Which led me to assume that anything Clementina heard, he heard too.
In hindsight, Lydia might have known that. That would explain why she’d practiced so hard after snatching an opportunity to sing in front of the former empress. To borrow Renato’s words, Lydia had fought to the death for this. She must have been even more eager to do well because of my presence. If the God of Music had descended to invite her to his garden after she beat me, it would have made for a perfect victory.
The God of Music had descended, just like she’d hoped. He’d even flown down until he was right in front of her. Lydia must have believed her lifelong wish was about to be granted. I could only imagine how happy she must have been—only for things to turn out like this.
Lydia was the proudest girl I’d ever met. She thought highly of her title and had conducted herself in a way that befit it her entire life. Now, she’d completely broken down, crying and screaming onstage.
As the lady of a ducal house, how was I supposed to react? What was the right answer? Did I have to pretend I couldn’t see her? Or would it be better to visibly worry and whisper, Oh no, poor Lady Selesnoa?
I didn’t know. But I did know that the course of action I chose was an inappropriate one.
Before I knew it, I was dashing toward the stage.
“Lady Selesnoa!”
Oh boy. I didn’t even ask for permission before running away from the former emperor and empress and the crown prince! That’s definitely a mistake—a big faux pas! But I couldn’t help myself!
There’s no way she can pick herself up with no help after such a huge setback! What if she shuts herself in her room and never comes back out?!
The image of a boy I’d known in high school flashed before me, overlapping with Lydia. He had dedicated his youth to reaching Koshien Stadium, but in the ninth inning of the prefectural finals—the final step before Koshien—after a strong game his team should have won, he’d failed to catch the ball. The other team had scored a walk-off grand slam from his mistake. He’d cost his team the win and had become a shut-in from the shock.